Editor: Saroj Bishoyi
Contributors
Gulbin Sultana Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives
Arshi Aggarwal Southeast Asia
Gunjan Singh China
Pranamita Baruah Japan, South and North Korea
Rajorshi Roy Russia and Central Asia Zaki Zaidi Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Gulf Saroj Bishoyi United States of America
Amit Kumar Defence Reviews
Rajbala Rana Internal Security Reviews
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C ONTENTS
In This Issue Page
I. COUNTRY REVIEWS 2-30
A. South Asia 2-7
B. East Asia 7-11
C. Southeast Asia 11-16
D. Russia 16-21
E. Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Gulf 22-23
F. United States of America 24-30
II. DEFENCE REVIEW 30-32
III. INTERNAL SECURITY REVIEW 32-35
I. C OUNTRY R EVIEWS
A. South Asia
Bangladesh
(April 6-19, 2015)
Khaleda Zia returns to her residence; Bangladesh cabinet approves revised Bangladesh- India bilateral trade agreement; Export increases in March; Life time imprisonment to ULFA leader; Bangladesh loses 1 per cent of the GDP in 2015 due to political turmoil; Bangladesh decides to join the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise; Land Minister of Bangladesh meets Mamata Banerjee.
Khaleda Zia finally returned to her residence on April 5, after staying at her Gulshan office for three months. Zia surrendered before a Dhaka court and obtained bails in two corruption cases in which the court had ordered her arrest 39 days ago. Upon her appearance, the court withdrew the arrest warrants in Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases. The warrants had been issued after the BNP chief dodged court proceedings for four consecutive dates.1
Bangladesh cabinet has approved the revised Bangladesh-India bilateral trade agreement under which the two neighbours would use each other’s territories for transiting goods to a third country.
The modified deal would enable Bangladesh to use Indian territories for transporting goods to Nepal and Bhutan. Similarly, India would be able to send goods to Myanmar through Bangladesh.2 Exports rose 7.43 percent year-on-year to $2.93 billion in March. The figure takes the total export earnings so far in fiscal 2014-15 to $23.24 billion, up 2.98 percent year-on-year, according to data from the central bank.3
A local court sentenced United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Ranjan Chowdhury and his Bangladeshi aide Pradip Marak to life term imprisonment in two cases for arms and terrorism on April 8. The court also fined the lifers Tk 20,000 each. Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-9) had arrested Ranjan Chowdhury alias Major Ranjan, 46, former general secretary of Dhubra district unit of ULFA, and his Bangladeshi aide Pradip Marak, 57, of Bakura village in Jhinaigati upazila of Sherpur district, from Bhraib upazila in Kishoreganj district on July 17, 2010. The elite
1 “Relief, after Three Months’ Tension”, The Daily Star, April 6, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/
relief-after-three-months-tension-75789.
2 Tusher, Hasan Jahid, “Revised Trade Deal with India Okayed”, The Daily Star, April 7, 2015 at http://
www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/trade-deal-india-revised-75954.
3 “Export Growth Brings Sunshine”, The Daily Star, April 7, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/business/export/
export-growth-brings-sunshine-75925.
force also recovered two pistols, four bullets, four handmade bombs and some bomb making materials from Ranjan’s hideout at Laxmipur village in Bhairab upazila.4
Political unrest this year has caused greater damage to Bangladesh’s economy than that in 2013 when the nation’s two main political parties Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party fought over general elections. This time the country lost $2.2 billion or 1 percentage point of gross domestic product (GDP) due to prolonged political turmoil, said the World Bank in its
“Bangladesh Development Update Report 2015” launched at its Dhaka office on April 12.5 Bangladesh has decided to join the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, a new international cooperation platform to be launched to promote protection for the internet ecosystem in the developing countries. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali announced this while speaking at the Plenary Session of the Global Conference on CyberSpace 2015 at the Hague in the Netherlands on April 16, according to the ministry press release.6
Land Minister of Bangladesh Shamsur Rahman Sharif has expressed hope that the long-pending issue of exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh would be resolved soon. He came up with the view after meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on April 13. Following the meeting that lasted for nearly an hour, the minister said although there was no particular agenda for discussion, the enclave exchange issue came up.7
Sri Lanka
(April 6-19, 2015)
Sri Lanka-Pakistan sign six MoUs; Prime minister of Bhutan visits Sri Lanka; UN Development Chief for Asia and UN Assistant Secretary-General Haoliang Xu visits Sri Lanka; India provides visa on arrival facility to Sri Lanka; UN urges Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of conflict-related sexual violence; Report suggest Naxals getting arms through sea route from Sri Lanka; Deputy Foreign Minister visits the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; Sri Lanka-China discusses boosting ties between the two army.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan signed six agreements during President Sirisena’s three day visit to Pakistan.
The six MoUs signed are: 1) Cooperation between Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka; 2) Agreement on cooperation against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 3) Academic cooperation agreement on exchange and collaboration between National Defence University of Pakistan and Lakshman Kadirgamar
4 “Ulfa Leader, Local Aide Get Life Term”, The Daily Star, April 9, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/country/
ulfa-leader-local-aide-get-life-term-76353.
5 “3-Month Turmoil Costs Nation $2.2b”, The Daily Star, April 13, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/
3-month-turmoil-costs-nation-22b-77049.
6 “Bangladesh To Join Global Cyber Forum Expertise”, The Daily Star, April 17, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/
backpage/bangladesh-join-global-cyber-forum-expertise-77727.
7 “Land Minister Meets Mamata”, The Daily Star, April 14, 2015 at http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/land- minister-meets-mamata-77331.
Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies of Sri Lanka; 4) Collaboration in the field of Sports; 5) Mutual cooperation in shipping business between Pakistan National Shipping Corporation(PNSC) and the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd (CSCL); 6) Cooperation on disaster management.8
The Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay made an official visit to Sri Lanka on April 9, 2015 on an invitation extended by President Maithripala Sirisena.9 During the bilateral discussion on April 10, President Maithripala Sirisena praised Bhutan for adopting a democratic constitution and added that Sri Lanka too could learn from the new Bhutanese Constitution. Both the leaders pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation and establish air links between Paro and Colombo by Druk Air, the Bhutanese national Carrier. The two leaders agreed that Sri Lanka and Bhutan have a special relationship as the two countries are bound by common spiritual link of Buddhism.
Prime Minister Tobgay said that his country is extremely grateful to Sri Lanka for the gift of a sapling of Sri Maha Bodhi to Bhutan and it will be highly venerated and respected in his country.
During the bilateral discussions, Tobgay thanked Sri Lanka for providing placements to Bhutanese students in Sri Lankan medical colleges. President Sirisena said he would provide more seats to Bhutanese students at the Medical faculty of the Kotalawala Defence Academy and examine the possibility of increasing the number of scholarships given to Bhutan. President Sirisena said steps would be taken to increase cooperation in areas such as health, agriculture and tourism between the two countries.10
Engaging in a six-day visit to Sri Lanka, the UN Development Chief for Asia and UN Assistant Secretary-General Haoliang Xu met with the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake on April 6 and discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the UN system. Xu also met and exchanged views with Minister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs, D.M. Swaminathan. During this meeting Xu discussed UN/UNDP’s support to complete the process of resettlement for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), alongside the broader development agenda for the displaced and other challenges relating to the resettlement process.
Xu also met with other key government leaders and partners of the UNDP supported SELAJSI Programme (Strengthening the Enforcement of Law, Access to Justice and Social Integration), a programme that was launched during his 2014 visit to the island.11 Xu also conducted a field visit to the North.12
8 “Pakistan, Lanka Sign Nuclear Deal”, Colombo Gazatte, April 6, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/06/
pakistan-lanka-sign-nuclear-deal/.
9 “Prime Minister of Bhutan Arrives”, Colombo Gazatte, April 9, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/09/
prime-minister-of-bhutan-arrives/.
10 “President Hails Reforms in Bhutan”, Colombo Gazatte, April 10, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/
10/president-hails-reforms-in-bhutan/.
11 “UN, Lanka Discuss Cost Sharing”, Colombo Gazatte, April 6, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/06/
un-lanka-discuss-cost-sharing/.
12 “UN Official On Northern Field Visit”, Colombo Gazatte, April 8, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/08/
un-official-on-northern-field-visit/.
Sri Lanka has been added to the list of countries who will enjoy the visa on arrival facility when visiting India from April 14. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, had announced that Sri Lanka will be added to the list of countries offered visa on arrival by India.13
The United Nations has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of conflict- related sexual violence, including incidents said to have taken place during the post war period.
UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon, in a report to the UN Security Council, on conflict related sexual violence, said that in Sri Lanka, in the five years since the end of the armed conflict, the Government has committed to supporting the resettlement and reintegration of civilians displaced by the violence and has made considerable progress in this regard. However, he said one of the major unaddressed issues is impunity for conflict-related sexual violence. He noted that the Government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence and committed to take stringent action in response to such crimes, including discharging and prosecuting offenders from the security forces. However, the report by the UN Secretary General notes that there are indications that abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence have increased in the post-war period.14
India’s Central intelligence agencies have launched a major investigation into a “specific tip-off”
that Naxals were now getting sophisticated weapons through the sea route from Sri Lanka. The Asian Age quoted top intelligence sources as saying that they had received information some time back that Naxals were routing arms and ammunition through the sea route through an arms cartel which was suspected to be earlier providing weapons to the LTTE as well. It is suspected that the weapons are coming through Sri Lanka using the sea route, sources added. Intelligence officials are worried about this new “supply route” being used by the Maoists to procure sophisticated weapons, including the AK-series rifles, landmines, grenade launchers, communication equipment and even Night Vision Devices (NVDs).15
Sri Lankan Government has assured its serious commitment and meaningful contributions to achieve the goals of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the Foreign Ministry said on April 16. A Foreign Ministry statement said that Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith P. Perera, visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and met with the Director- General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü. Ambassador Üzümcü acknowledged Sri Lanka’s role in implementation of the CWC, including its contributions to OPCW training and assistance activities aimed at enhancing international cooperation and capacity-building efforts. The Director-General and the Deputy Foreign Minister discussed ways of further enhancing cooperation between the Organisation and Sri Lanka.16
13 “Visa on Arrival to India From Today”, Colombo Gazatte, April 14, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/
14/visa-on-arrival-to-india-from-today/.
14 “UN for Probe on Sexual Violence”, Colombo Gazatte, April 16, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/16/
un-for-probe-on-sexual-violence/.
15 “Naxals Getting Arms via Sri Lanka”, Colombo Gazatte, April 16, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/
16/naxals-getting-arms-via-sri-lanka/.
16 “Sri Lanka Assures CWC Support”, Colombo Gazatte, April 16, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/16/
sri-lanka-assures-cwc-support/.
Sri Lanka and China have had talks on boosting ties between the People’s Liberation Army of China and the Sri Lanka Army. Both sides had largely discussed on ongoing cooperation for training programmes, the army media unit said in a statement with regards to talks held between the Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka, Yi Xianliang and the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva at the Army Headquarters.17
Maldives
(April 6-19, 2015)
Japan to provide non-project grant aid to the Maldives; President returns the Amendment Bill to the Prison and Parole Act; India evacuates Maldivian student from Yemen; An international team of lawyers have been established in defence of Nasheed; Bangladesh High Commissioner meets Dunya Maumoon; Export increases by 90 per cent in March.
Maldives and Japan have signed the Exchange of Notes for the Non-Project Grant Aid for Provision of Japanese Disaster Reduction Equipment (2014), under which Japan will provide equipment valued at MVR 64 million. The Exchange of Notes was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon and Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Nobuhito Hobo, at a ceremony at Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 7.18
President Abdulla Yameen has returned the Amendment Bill to the Prison and Parole Act, which states that criminal convicts cannot be members of political parties, to the parliament without ratification. Former President Mohamed Nasheed would no longer be a member of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) if the law is enforced, which would follow ratification by the President.
This would leave the post of President of MDP vacant.19
India has helped to evacuate a Maldivian student from Yemen, where fighting is ongoing between Houthi rebels and government forces. The High Commission of Maldives in India, on its official Twitter account thanked India for its help.20
An international team of lawyers have been established in defence of the former president Mohamed Nasheed who is currently serving a 13 year prison sentence. The team consists of Jared Genser, Ben Emmerson (QC) and Amal Clooney. The former president’s office said that the first task of the international team would be to work with the Maldivian team of lawyers and present Nasheed’s case to UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.21
17 “China, Sri Lanka Talk on Army Ties”, Colombo Gazatte, April 18, 2015 at http://colombogazette.com/2015/04/
18/china-sri-lanka-talk-on-army-ties/.
18 “Japan Provides Disaster Reduction Equipment Worth MVR 64 Million”, SunOnline, April 7, 2015 at http://
www.sun.mv/english/28977.
19 “Bill Disqualifying Nasheed as MDP Member Not Ratified, Returned to Parliament”, SunOnline, April 7, 2015 at http://www.sun.mv/english/28974.
20 “India Helps Evacuate Maldivian Student from Yemen”, SunOnline, April 7, 2015 at http://www.sun.mv/english/28967.
21 “International Team of Lawyers to Defend Nasheed”, SunOnline, April 7, 2015 at http://www.sun.mv/english/28983.
The new High Commissioner of Bangladesh Rear Admiral Kazi Sarwar Hossain has paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon. During the meeting, Dunya reassured the Maldivian government’s commitment to addressing the issues faced by Bangladeshi expatriates. At the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, the Foreign Minister and the High Commissioner also discussed ways of further strengthening and diversifying existing ties between the two countries, including enhancing trade relations.22
Exports have increased by 90 percent in March 2015, compared to March 2014. According to
“Monthly Statistics – March 2015” published by Maldives Customs Service, goods worth MVR 212.5 million were exported in March 2015, while the value of goods exported in the corresponding period of 2014 was MVR 111.7 million. The increase in exports is attributed to a significant hike in the export of yellow-fin tuna. Imports, meanwhile, went down by 2 percent. Goods worth MVR 2,560.8 million were imported in March 2015, while the value of goods imported in the corresponding period of 2014 was MVR 2,599.9 million.23
B. East Asia
China
(April 13-19, 2015)
AIIB to cooperate with the existing multilateral institutions and focus primarily on infrastructure; Xi Jinping to visit Pakistan and Indonesia; China’s Belt and Road Initiative is ready to welcome all to join; PLA ready to but advanced missiles from Russia; China upset over remarks made by the Philippines; China releases white paper on Tibet Development; China and Turkey to cooperate and fight terrorism.
Talking about the Asian Infrastructure Bank (AIIB), the Chinese vice foreign Minister, Zhu Guangyao said that, “The AIIB will focus on infrastructure and cooperate with existing multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Asia Development Bank (ADB)”. He also added that the AIIB which has an initial capital of 50 billion and planned capital of 100 billion is alone incapable of funding alone.24
The Chinese President Xi Jinping is all set to visit Pakistan on a two day trip starting on April 20.
This is the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Pakistan in nine years. According to the assistant foreign minister, Liu Jianchao, “both countries will seal agreements covering areas including energy, transportation, infrastructure, trade, finance and technology”.25
22 “Dunya Reassures Commitment To Addressing Issues Faced By Bangladeshi Expats”, SunOnline, April 16, 2015 at http://www.sun.mv/english/29175.
23 “Exports Increase By 90 Percent in March”, SunOnline, April 15, 2015 at http://www.sun.mv/english/29157.
24 “AIIB to Focus on Infrastructure, Cooperate with Existing Multilateral Institutions”, China Daily, April 18, 2015 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/18/content_20469084.htm, accessed on April 20, 2015
25 “Xi Set to Visit Pakistan and Indonesia”, By Zhao Shengnan/Zhao Yanrong, China Daily, April 18, 2015 at http:/
/www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/18/content_20464452.htm, accessed on April 20, 2015
Ou Xiaoli, an inspector in the Department of Western Development of the China National Development and Reform Commission, said on April 16, that, “any country interested in the Belt and Road Initiative is welcome to participate”. It is reported that more than 60 countries have shown interests in participating in this initiative.26
China announced that it had deployed Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. According to Wang Ya’nan, the deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, “The S-400 is definitely one of the top anti-aircraft weapons in the world. It will greatly supplement the People’s Liberation Army’s air defence system, which now has some loopholes in long-range, high-altitude defence of airplanes or ballistic missiles”.27
As a response to the Philippine President Beningno Aquino’s recent accusations regarding China undertaking constructions on islands in the South China Seam the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said that these accusations were “unreasonable”. He further added that,
“We urge the Philippines to respect China’s sovereignty and its own commitment in bilateral documents and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).28
On April 15, 2015 the Chinese government issued a white paper on the development path of Tibet. The white paper is titled, “Tibet’s Path of Development Is Drive by an Irresistible Historical Tide”.29
According to Turkish media reports, two Islamic State members from China were arrested by the Turkish military on the Turkey-Syria border on April 7. As a response to this the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said on April 14 that China is ready to cooperate with Turkey in its fight against terrorism.30
Japan
(April 13-19, 2015)
Tourism ministers of Japan, South Korea and China held talks after a hiatus of four years;
LDP proposes new provisions for SDF dispatch overseas; New defence guidelines between Japan-US to incorporate minesweeping and ballistic missile defence; Japan’s Ground and
26 Xiang, Zhang, “Belt and Road Initiative Open to All”, China Daily, April 16, 2015 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
china/2015-04/16/content_20452313.htm, accessed on April 17, 2015
27 Lei, Zhao, “PLA to Buy Advanced Missiles from Russia”, China Daily, April 16, 2015 at http://
www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/16/content_20446202.htm, accessed on April 17, 2015
28 “China Refutes Philippine President’s South China Sea Accusation”, China Daily, April 15, 2015 at http://
www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-04/15/content_20442989.htm, accessed on April 17, 2015
29 “China Denounces Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle Way’”, China Daily, April 15, 2015 at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
china/2015-04/15/content_20438991.htm, accessed on April 17, 2015
30 “China Willing to Cooperate with Turkey to Fight Terror”, China Daily, April 15, 2015 at http://
www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-04/15/content_20441215.htm, accessed on April 17, 2015
Maritime SDF conduct joint landing exercise to improve capability in defending outlying islands.
On April 12, the tourism ministers of Japan, South Korea and China held their first meeting after a hiatus of four years in Tokyo. During the meeting they agreed to increase the number of tourists among the three counties by 50 per cent to 30 million by 2020. A joint statement was also adopted that pledged to enhance the number of travellers among the three countries by 1.5 times from about 20.5 million in 2014.The meeting marked the resumption of the trilateral ministerial talk amid the ongoing tenuous political situation between Japan and its two neighbours.31
On April 16, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) proposed to incorporate a new provision in the country’s planned international peace assistance law. The provision is to allow the Japanese government to dispatch the Self Defence Forces (SDF) troops if it obtains Diet approval within one week of the start of the missions. While Diet approval is mostly mandatory, the government proposes to allow exceptions to the rule in certain cases. It remains to be seen how the LDP’s junior coalition partner-Komeito-would react to this new provision as it has been insisting that it would not accept any exceptions to the rule.32
In the upcoming Japan-US bilateral defence cooperation guidelines, the two governments are planning to incorporate minesweeping operations and ballistic missile defence. This is another big step taken by Japan towards exercising the right to collective self-defence that was approved by the Abe Administration in July last year. The legislation on collective self-defence is currently being negotiated between the ruling LDP and its junior coalition partner-Komeito-in Japan.
Nevertheless, the new defence guidelines are to be put together by the end of this month. It is expected to expand the scope of defence cooperation between Japan and the US. While under the existing guidelines, Japan could offer defence cooperation to the US troops in two circumstances:
in times of emergency when Japan is threatened by direct armed attack, and when situations in areas surrounding Japan threaten to affect Japan’s own national security. However the new guidelines propose to incorporate that Japan could offer cooperation to the US troops in situations threatening the survival of Japan in sea-lanes and elsewhere.33
Japanese Defence Ministry is reportedly planning to set up an amphibious mobile landing unit with improved capabilities by the end of fiscal 2018 in order to defend and protect Japan’s outlying islands. The decision was taken while keeping in mind China’s growing assertive behaviour over Senkaku islands and the South China Sea region. In order to prepare for the establishment of the said unit, Japan’s Ground and Maritime Self Defence Force held joint landing exercise from April 11 onwards. It was to continue for six days. It needs to be noted that this was the third time that the two defence troops of Japan carried out joint exercises involving amphibious landing. In
31 “Japan, China, South Korea Pledge To Increase Visitors To 30 Million by 2020”, The Asahi Shimbun, April 13, 2015, at http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201504130023
32 “New Proposal Made over SDF Missions Overseas”, The Yomiuri Daily, April 17, 2015, at http://the-japan- news.com/news/article/0002088928
33 “Minesweeping Eyed in Defence Guidelines”, The Yomiuri Daily, April 17, 2015, at http://the-japan-news.com/
news/article/0002088625
May and October last year too, they conducted similar exercises in the Amami chain of islands off Kagoshima Prefecture.34
South Korea
(April 13-19, 2015)
Vice Foreign Ministers of South Korea, Japan and US hold their first-ever talks; South Korea to prove more humanitarian aid to North Korea.
On April 16, the vice Foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan and US hold their first-ever talks in Washington. Given the ongoing political tension between South Korea and Japan on historical and territorial issues, the former’s efforts towards mending its ties with Tokyo seem significant.
In the meeting South Korean vice Foreign Minister Cho-Tae yong, Japanese vice-Foreign Minister Akitaka Saeki and US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken took part. The three basically discussed about the security threat posed by North Korea and the prospect of peace and stability in the East Asian region.35 In the meeting, both Cho Tae yong and Saeki vow to cooperate in areas of mutual interest and improve the currently strained relationship between South Korea and Japan.36
With a view to easing the ongoing political tension in the Korean peninsula, South Korea intends to increase its humanitarian aid to North Korea. South Korean government’s assistance to the North Korea has been suspended since the Cheonan incident in March 2010. However South Korea’s Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo is to encourage more private organizations to contribute towards enhancing inter-Korean exchanges. He also hopes to boost the channel of communication between the two Koreas at the non-governmental level.37
North Korea
(April 13-19, 2015)
North Korea’s head of Parliament is to visit Indonesia to join the upcoming Asian-African conference.
North Korea’s head of Parliament-Kim Yong-nam- is to visit Indonesia next week to attend the upcoming Asian-African Conference. Kim, who is also the ceremonial head of North Korea, reached Beijing on April 18 on his way to Indonesia. In the said conference, several regional
34 “SDF Holding Third Joint Amphibious Landing Exercises On Outlying Island”, The Asahi Shimbun, April 15, 2015, at http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201504150045
35 “Vice Ministers of Korea, US, Japan Hold Talks,” The Korea Herald, April 16, 2015, at http://www.koreaherald.com/
view.php?ud=20150416000912
36 “Korea, Japan Vow Joint Efforts For Cooperation”, The Korea Herald, April 17, 2015, at http://www.koreaherald.com/
common_prog/newsprint.php?ud=20150417000921&dt=2
37 “S. Korea To Increase Humanitarian Aid to N. Korea”, The Korea Herald, April 17, 2015, at http://
www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150417000802
leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are to participate. Kim is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping on the side-lines of the conference.38
C. Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
(April 13-19, 2015)
China spies on India, Southeast Asia: Reports; India to officially begin diplomatic mission to ASEAN; Australia says Nauru refugees will soon be sent to Cambodia; Cambodia pardons jailed rights activists; Indonesia protests beheading of migrant worker in Saudi Arabia;
Indonesian army chief makes introductory visit to Singapore; Indonesia eyes navy exercises with US in disputed waters; Indonesian F-16 explodes on take-off; About 70 Malaysian army personnel linked to Islamic State: Defence Ministry; The Philippines, Vietnam hold defence policy dialogue; US to deploy equipment to Philippines; Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force reaffirms defence ties with China; Interpol’s R&D facility in Singapore opens; Arms deals with Russia in pipeline as West shuns junta; Vietnam, France vow to remove trade barriers;
Vietnamese defence official greets Russian defence attaché; Indian Defence Attaché meets Fiji Police; First New Zealand troops set to deploy to Iraq; PNG army investigates Indonesian troop movements.
Hackers, most likely from China, have been spying on governments and businesses in Southeast Asia and India uninterrupted for a decade, researchers at internet security company FireEye Inc said. In a report released on April 13, FireEye said the cyber espionage operations dated back to at least 2005 and “focused on targets - government and commercial - who hold key political, economic and military information about the region.” “Such a sustained, planned development effort coupled with the (hacking) group’s regional targets and mission, lead us to believe that this activity is state-sponsored - most likely the Chinese government,” the report’s authors said. Bryce Boland, Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific at FireEye and co-author of the report, said the attack was still ongoing, noting that the servers the attackers used were still operational, and that FireEye continued to see attacks against its customers, who number among the targets.39
India is set to officially begin a diplomatic mission in the ASEAN region on April 22 in a bid to boost ties with member states of what it calls a unique grouping of countries with high economic potential. Indian Ambassador to ASEAN Suresh K. Reddy said India’s relations with ASEAN were very important because of the current economic potential existing between his country and ASEAN. He said India had a robust flow of investments into Southeast Asian nations and vice versa. “Our trade is healthy,” he said on the side-lines of a soft opening of the Indian Mission to
38 “N. Korea’s Ceremonial Head Of State Travels to Indonesia”, The Korea Herald, April 18, 2015, at http://
www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150418000084
39 “Chinese Hackers Target Southeast Asia, India, Researchers Say”, Reuters, available at http://in.reuters.com/
article/2015/04/13/cybersecurity-fireeye-report-idINKBN0N40AJ20150413, accessed on: April 20, 2015
ASEAN held in Central Jakarta on April 13. Suresh said the value of trade between India and ASEAN was currently US$90 billion but hopefully could be increased to $200 billion.40
Refugees rejected by Australia will soon fly from the Pacific atoll of Nauru to be resettled in Cambodia, the Australian government said on April 16. A charter flight could fly the first refugees to be resettled in Phnom Penh, according to a copy of a fact sheet that the Refugee Action Collective advocacy group said has been circulated at Nauru. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office did not specify when the first group will fly under a bilateral agreement signed by Cambodia and Australia last September. “The first group of volunteers is anticipated to depart for Cambodia in the near future,” his office said in a statement. The intergovernmental International Organization for Migration was sending an official to Nauru “with an expectation of possible movements in the coming days,” IOM’s Bangkok-based spokesman Joe Lowry said. The deal with Cambodia will cost the Australian government more than 10 million Australian dollars ($7.6 million) a year and has been condemned by human rights groups.41
Cambodia has pardoned and released ten female land activists jailed over protests last year, following an outcry over their arrests. King Norodom Sihamoni granted a royal pardon to the activists – including a 75-year-old woman known locally as ‘Mommy’ – who were released on April 11, said Am Sam Ath of rights group Licadho, which provided legal assistance to the women.
‘We regret that they made no mistake but were convicted and jailed,’ he said. In November, 10 women and a defrocked Buddhist monk were each sentenced to a year in prison for blocking traffic or obstructing the work of officials during protests in Phnom Penh.42
Saudi Arabia executed an Indonesian domestic worker on April 16 just days after beheading another woman from the country, prompting the Indonesian foreign ministry to summon the kingdom’s ambassador, Jakarta said. Karni binti Medi Tarsim, 37, was convicted of murdering a four-year-old girl in 2012, according to a statement from the Indonesian foreign ministry. Her execution in Yanbu, western Saudi Arabia, came two days after another Indonesian helper, Siti Zainab, was beheaded for murder. In both cases, Jakarta expressed anger that it was not given advance notice of the execution.43
The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD), General Gatot Nurmantyo, was in Singapore for his introductory visit during April 14 to 16, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced in a
40 “India To Officially Begin Diplomatic Mission to ASEAN”, The Jakarta Post, available at http://
w w w . t h e j a k a r t a p o s t . c o m / n e w s / 2 0 1 5 / 0 4 / 1 5 / i n d i a - o f f i c i a l l y - b e g i n - d i p l o m a t i c - m i s s i o n - asean.html#sthash.AT5fJajJ.dpuf, accessed on April 20, 2015
41 “Australia Says Nauru Refugees Will Soon Be Sent to Cambodia”, ABC News, available at http://abcnews.go.com/
International/wireStory/australia-nauru-refugees-cambodia-30353043, accessed on April 20. 2015
42 “Cambodia Pardons Jailed Rights Activists”, Echo NetDaily, available at http://www.echo.net.au/2015/04/
cambodia-pardons-jailed-rights-activists/, accessed on April 20. 2015
43 “Saudi Arabia Executes Second Indonesia Woman: Jakarta”, Strait Times, available at http://www.straitstimes.com/
new s/asi a/so ut h-e ast -a sia/ st or y /saud i-ar abia- ex ec u t es- sec on d -ind ones ia-wo man-j akar t a- 20150416#sthash.ZlT3XH0Q.dpuf’Indonesian army chief makes introductory visit to Singapore, accessed on: April 20, 2015
press release on Apr 15. The visit by Gen Gatot underscores the strong and long-standing defence relationships between Singapore and Indonesia, said Mindef. The ministry added: “The Singapore Army and the TNI-AD interact regularly through a range of activities, including bilateral exercises, cross-attendance of courses, and professional exchanges. These extensive interactions have strengthened interoperability as well as deepened mutual understanding between the two armies.”44
Indonesia wants to hold regular military exercises with the United States near the sparsely populated Natuna archipelago, an area of the South China Sea near China’s claims, a navy spokesman said on April 13. Although Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea, the military has accused China of including parts of Natuna within its so called “Nine-Dash Line,”
the vague boundary used on Chinese maps to lay claim to about 90 percent of the sea. The United States, which raised concerns on April about China’s rapid reclamation of reefs in the area, held a joint military exercise over the weekend with Indonesia in Batam, about 300 miles (480 km) from Natuna. “It was the second joint exercise we have conducted with the United States in that area and we are planning another one next year. We want to make it routine in that area,” said Indonesia Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir.45
An Indonesian air force F-16 plane which was about to do a flyover at a military ceremony for President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo exploded during take-off on April 16, an air force spokesman said. The pilot suffered from some burn injuries on his neck and arm, he said. The pilot was initially scheduled to do a fly-pass above the Indonesian Defence Force headquarters during a ceremony to inaugurate Jokowi as an honorary member of the military special force.46
Malaysia Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri revealed that about 70 army personnel were found to be involved with the Islamic State (IS) militant group. The figure was confirmed by the police, he said, during a question session at the Upper House of Parliament. He added that the army is monitoring the situation via its investigation and intelligence division. Mr Abdul Rahim said any army personnel found to be involved with IS will be counselled by the police and army in bid to restore their faith, in accordance with the proper teachings of Islam.47
Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh and his Philippine counterpart Honorio S Azcueta on April 13 co-hosted the first Vietnam- Philippines defence policy dialogue in Hanoi. At the dialogue, the two sides assessed the global and regional situation and issues of shared concern, and reviewed the results of defence cooperation over recent years. They
44 “Indonesian Army Chief Makes Introductory Visit to Singapore”, Channel News Asia, available at http://
www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/indonesian-army-chief/1785294.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
45 “Indonesia Eyes Navy Exercises With US in Disputed Waters”, ABS CBN News, at http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
global-filipino/world/04/13/15/indonesia-eyes-navy-exercises-us-disputed-waters, accessed on: April 20, 2015
46 “Indonesian F-16 explodes on take-off”, Bangkok Post, available at http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/
530387/indonesian-f-16-explodes-on-takeoff, accessed on: April 20, 2015
47 “About 70 Malaysian Army Personnel Linked to Islamic State: Defence Ministry”, Channel News Asia, available at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/about-70-malaysian-army/1781556.html, accessed on:
April 20, 2015
agreed that the Vietnam – Philippines defence cooperation continued to grow steadily across a variety of realms in a practical and effective manner. Regarding orientations for future cooperation, they consented to realize areas of cooperation under the framework of the bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed in October 2010. Accordingly, both sides pledged to continue intensifying all-level delegation exchanges, maintain and improve the efficiency of deputy- ministerial dialogue mechanisms aiming to build confidence and perception on international and regional matters and bilateral relations.48
The United States is planning to deploy “various advanced air and naval equipment” to the Philippines in view of China’s massive reclamation works in the South China Sea, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has said. In an interview to a news channel on April 15, Mr Del Rosario said US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has “outlined” this plan, “and we welcome this”. Mr Del Rosario said he would fly to Washington in two weeks to meet Mr Carter and US State Secretary John Kerry to discuss the planned deployment. Commenting on the US plan to deploy air and naval assets to the Philippines, defence consultant Jose Custodio said “these are practically useless”. He said he expects the US to deploy destroyers, littoral ships, submarines and surveillance aircraft “only for knowing what the Chinese are doing”. Meanwhile, Beijing dismissed as “groundless” President Benigno Aquino’s warning on April 14 that China’s actions in the South China Sea “should engender fear for the rest of the world”.49
China and Singapore have agreed on concrete initiatives to deepen their defence relationship after Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General (LG) Ng Chee Meng, met People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Chief of General Staff, General (GEN) Fang Fenghui. LG Ng was on a six-day introductory visit to China, till April 18 at the invitation of GEN Fang. Both exchanged views on the regional security situation and the state of bilateral defence cooperation, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a news release on April 14. MINDEF added that both armed forces chiefs committed to expanding interactions with each other under the Four-Point Consensus which was agreed on between Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and China’s Minister of National Defence Chang Wanquan during Dr Ng’s visit to China last November.50
The Interpol Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) officially opened on April 13, as part of Singapore’s bid to help the international organisation strengthen its global presence. Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean said the research and development (R&D) facility, which is located at the former Tanglin Police Division Headquarters, would complement the General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Teo underlined the need to deal with growing safety and security challenges. Mr Teo cited attacks at a university in Kenya and the police headquarters in Istanbul as examples of recent threats. “The heightened terrorism threat, including self-radicalised individuals, poses serious risks to the
48 “The Philippines, Vietnam Hold Defence Policy Dialogue”, Vietnam Net, available at http://english.vietnamnet.vn/
fms/government/128092/the-philippines—vietnam-hold-defence-policy-dialogue.html, accessed on April 20, 2015
49 “US to Deploy Equipment to Philippines”, Strait Times, available at http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/
asia-report/south-china-sea/story/us-deploy-equipment-philippines-20150416, accessed on: April 20, 2015
50 “Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Reaffirms Defence Ties With China”, Channel News Asia, available at http://
www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-chief-of/1784114.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
safety and security of every country. We also see a stronger nexus between organised crime and terrorism as criminal networks exploit connectivity and technology to globalise their operations,”
Mr Teo said.51
Despite Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s insistence that the government’s renewed relationship with Russia is not meant to counterbalance deteriorating relations with the United States, a top Russian minister said Moscow had high hopes for future arms deals with the junta now that Thailand’s relations with the West had cooled.
Russian Commerce Minister Denis Manturov, a key member of the Russian delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Thailand last week, said deals were also in the pipeline on rail services, military aircraft, and the sale of three Sukhoi Superjet transport planes to Thailand, with the shipment expected late next year.52
Vietnam and France have agreed on the necessity of removing trade barriers and obstacles in market approaches through bilateral dialogues, including Vietnam lifting its ban on French beef.
The agreement was reached during the third annual high-level economic dialogue chaired by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Nguyen Chi Dung and Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, in Hanoi on April 15. The French side also proposed Vietnam to consider removing barriers to the import of French apples. The two sides reaffirmed the significance of the annual economic dialogue in implementing the bilateral strategic partnership reached in September 2013.53
Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception on April 14 in Hanoi for the newly-appointed Russian Defence Attaché to Vietnam, Colonel Andrey Petrovich Likhachev. The Vietnamese official suggested the two sides further promote their existing close links through enhancing cooperation in defence, personnel training and all-level delegation exchanges. He affirmed that the defence cooperation between the two countries contributes to maintaining peace and stability in the region. For his part, Andrey committed to doing his utmost to step up the bilateral defence ties between the two nations.54
India’s Defence Advisor Captain Chetan Chandegave paid his first official visit on April 15.
Chandegave met the Acting Commissioner of Police Isikeli Vuniwaqa and discussed ways the two countries would be able to assist each other in strengthening the implementation of the law
51 “Interpol’s R&D Facility In Singapore Opens”, Channel News Asia, available at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/
news/singapore/interpol-officially-opens/1780740.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
52 “Arms Deals With Russia In Pipeline As West Shuns Junta”, The Nation, available at http://
www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Arms-deals-with-Russia-in-pipeline-as-West-shuns-j-30258142.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
53 “Vietnam, France Vow To Remove Trade Barriers”, Vietnam Net, available at http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/
government/128340/vietnam—france-vow-to-remove-trade-barriers.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
54 “Vietnamese Defence Official Greets Russian Defence Attaché”, Vietnam Net, available at http://
english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/government/128297/vietnamese-defence-official-greets-russian-defence-attache.html, accessed on: April 20, 2015
effectively. Possible areas of assistance that the Fiji Police Force would benefit from, are, training in information technology, forensics, cybercrime and peace keeping as well as the attachment of officers to India. Chandegave is based in Canberra, Australia.55
The Government is copping criticism over a lack of transparency around deployment of New Zealand troops to Iraq, amid reports the first group left Australia on April 14 afternoon. New Zealand is sending up to 143 troops to train the Iraqi military as part of an international coalition to defeat Islamic State (Isil) - but the Government has refused to confirm whether they are deploying immediately alongside their Australian counterparts. Twenty-six New Zealand troops and 59 Australians left Brisbane airport bound for the Middle East on April 14, Channel 7 reported.56 The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is looking into an unauthorised excursion of Indonesian soldiers into the country last week. The newspaper, The National, reports that Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo has directed his officers at the Vanimo Forward Base to submit a report on the matter. Earlier Wutung villagers reported seeing eight armed Indonesian soldiers crossing the border. PNG soldiers at the time were busy checking passengers and cargo from Indonesia at a checkpoint about 100 metres away. Wutung councillor Raphael Tungla says the Indonesian soldiers passed the border monument on the beach and walked to the edge of his village. He says they immediately turned back when villagers confronted them. But Mr Tungla says he is concerned about the laxity of the PNG soldiers in manning the border. He says soldiers should be patrolling the border and not checking passengers returning from the Batas market who had already been cleared by Customs, Immigration and the police.57
D. Russia
National
(April 13-19, 2015)
Russia to spend US$ 40 billion on state armament programme in 2015; Russia to focus on building defence electronics and tools base as part of its import substitution; Putin approves five new general designers of most complex weapons; Russian navy to get universal patrol ice breaker for the Arctic; Defence Ministry creates special force to deal with emergencies;
United Shipbuilding to upgrade Sevastopol Shipyard; S&P affirms Russia’s “BB+” sovereign
55 “Indian Defence Attache Meets Fiji Police”, Fiji Broadcasting Cooperation, available at http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/
28573/indian-defence-attache-meets-fiji-police-, accessed on: April 20, 2015
56 “First New Zealand troops Set To Deploy to Iraq”, Stuff, available at http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67756596/
first-new-zealand-troops-set-to-deploy-to-iraq, accessed on: April 20, 2015
57 “PNG Army Investigates Indonesian Troop Movements”, Radio New Zealand International, available at http://
www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271250/png-army-investigates-indonesian-troop-movements, accessed on: April 20, 2015
credit rating while outlook remains negative; Russia to spend US$ 2.2 billion on Crimea’s modernization in 2015; Russia launches North Pole-2015 drifting Arctic station.
Deputy Defence Minister Tatiana Shevtsova has said, on April 15, that Russia will allocate 2 trillion roubles (US$ 40 billion) in 2015 to finance the state armaments programme.58
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said, on April 17, that import substitution in Russia’s defence industry sector will focus on establishment of a national production of electronic components for the space and machine-tool industries.59
President Putin has approved five new general designers of the most complex types of weapons.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has said that the designers will need to become system integrators and organize diversified research teams working on different spheres in different groups.60
Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov has said, on April 17, that navy will receive a universal ship capable of being an ice-breaker, an ocean tug and a patrol ship for the Arctic.61
Russian Defence Ministry has created a special force to deal with the effects of man-made and natural calamities. The force will comprise of 12,000 troops, 1,700 pieces of special equipment and 100 planes and helicopters that will be on permanent duty. It will incorporate engineering and logistics units, teams of railway specialists and military and military transport aircraft.62 Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) will invest 7 billion roubles (US$ 136 million) to modernise the Sevastopol Shipyard.63
Standard & Poor’s rating agency affirmed, on April 17, it’s “BB+/B” long-and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings and its “BBB-/A-3” long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings on Russia. The report added that the outlook remains negative with the possibility of a downgrade not ruled out.64
58 “Russia’s Spending On State Armament Program To Reach $40 Bln In 2015 — Defense Ministry”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/russia/789540
59 “Import Substitution In Russian Defense Industry To Focus On Electronics, Tools — Deputy PM”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/economy/790245
60 “Putin Approves Five New General Designers Of Most Complex Weapons — Russian Deputy PM”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/russia/790192
61 “Russia’s Navy Group In Arctic To Get Universal Patrol Ice-Breaker”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http://tass.ru/
en/russia/790165
62 “Russian Defence Ministry Creates Special Force To Deal With Emergencies”, Itar-Tass, April 18, 2015 at http://
tass.ru/en/russia/790289
63 “United Shipbuilding Corp. To Invest $136 Million In Sevastopol Shipyard Upgrade”, Itar-Tass, April 18, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/russia/790311
64 “S&P Affirms Russia’s “Bb+” Sovereign Credit Rating, Outlook Remains Negative”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/economy/790243
Russian Deputy Crimean Affairs Minister Andrey Sokolov has said, on April 18, that a total of 113 billion roubles (US$ 2.2 billion) will be spent in 2015 to upgrade Crimea’s infrastructure. He added that 700 billion roubles (US$ 13.6 billion) will be invested in Crimean economy by 2020 with priority being given to develop the ‘resort industry and production sphere’.65
Russia has officially launched its North Pole-2015 drifting Arctic station on April 19. It is expected to function for several months and marks the revival of Russia’s programme of drifting stations that was suspended in the summer of 2013 after the North Pole-40 drifting station had been evacuated.66
International Affairs
(April 13-19, 2015)
Russia and China sign contract for S-400 missile systems; Russia lifts the ban on sale of S- 300 air defence missile systems to Iran; Lukoil reopens its office in Iran; President Putin briefs Netanyahu on sale of S-300 systems to Iran; Russia and Pakistan to hold joint military exercises; Russia to invest US$ 2 billion to build 1,100-km pipeline in Pakistan; President Putin meets the SCO members and observer states national security council secretaries; Russia looks at American troops in Ukraine as the first step towards US weapons supplies to Kiev;
Russia to set up a helicopter repair centre in Peru; Rosneft likely to buy out Gazprom Neft’s stake in National Oil Consortium; Russia and Mexico explore cooperation in the space sector; Norway upset at Russian vice-premier’s visit to Spitsbergen; Russia refutes the signing of an economic cooperation agreement with Greece; Russia to develop the potential of its military bases abroad; Normandy four foreign ministers call for full ceasefire in Ukraine;
Russia will not renew gas transit contract with Ukraine post 2019; Gazprom says Altai pipeline to offer direct competition to Russian gas supplies to Europe.
The CEO of Russia’s arms export agency Anatoly Isaikin has said, on April 13, that China has purchased Russian-made S-400 air defence systems. Purchases of the S-400 have previously been restricted to Russia’s Defence Ministry and China has become the first country to receive them.
The S-400, manufactured by Almaz-Antey, is an upgrade of the S-300 air defence system. It is capable of targeting up to 36 airplanes at a range of 150 kilometres and can also shoot down ballistic missiles.67
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed executive order, on April 13, for amending Presidential executive order No. 1154 of September 22, 2010, on measures for implementing UN Security Council resolution no. 1929 of June 9, 2010. The order ‘lifts the ban on transit of the S-300 air defence missile systems via Russian Federation territory (including by air), export from the
65 “Russia’s Federal Budget To Spend $2.2 Billion On Crimea’s Modernization in 2015", Itar-Tass, April 18, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/russia/790315
66 “Russia Launches North Pole-2015 Drifting Arctic Station”, Itar-Tass, April 19, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/russia/
790336
67 “China and Russia Sign Contract for S-400 Missile Systems”, The Moscow Times, April 13, 2015 at http://
www.themoscowtimes.com/article/519010.html
Russian Federation to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and transfer of the S-300 to the Islamic Republic of Iran outside the Russian Federation’s territory, using ships or aircraft flying the Russian Federation flag’.68
Lukoil’s first vice president Ravil Maganov has said, on April 15, that the company has reopened its office in Iran and looks forward to participate in Iranian projects once the sanctions are fully removed. Lukoil is interested in the Anaran oilfield project located on the Iranian-Iraqi border.
The company started working on the Anaran block in 2003 but was forced to pull out after economic sanctions had been imposed on Iran.69
President Putin has held a telephone conversation with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on April 14, in order to brief him on Russia’s decision to sell S-300 air defence systems to Iran. He argued that systems are defensive in nature and by no means endanger Israel’s security or other countries in the Middle East.70
Russia and Pakistan have agreed to hold their first-ever joint military exercises as part of their enhanced defence cooperation. The agreement was reached during a meeting, held in Moscow on April 16, between Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. The Pakistan Defence Minister was quoted as saying that cooperation will be stepped up in both defence industry and military training sectors. The two Ministers also reached a consensus that a multi-polar world would ensure peace and balance in international relations. They stressed on a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Yemen conflict.71
Russia will invest $2 billion in Pakistan to build a 1,100-kilometre pipeline from southern port city of Karachi to Lahore to transport liquefied natural gas. The deal is expected to be signed next month. This was stated by Pakistani Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on April 18. He added that in return for the investment, Russian companies will be awarded the contract to build the pipeline. Russia has also offered to sell gas to Pakistan.72
President Putin has met the national security council secretaries of SCO member countries and observer states in Moscow on April 13. The meeting was held on the eve of the 10th meeting of SCO national security council secretaries. Putin hoped that the secretaries will discuss proposals to strengthen security cooperation within the SCO.73
68 “Amendment to Executive Order On Measures For Implementing UN Security Council Resolution No. 1929”, President of Russia, April 13, 2015 at http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/49248
69 “Russia’s Lukoil Reopens Its Office in Iran”, Itar-Tass, April 15, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/economy/789393
70 “Putin Briefs Netanyahu On Logic Behind Sale of S-300 to Iran”, President of Russia, April 13, 2015 at http://
tass.ru/en/russia/789324
71 “Pak, Russia To Hold First-Ever Joint Military Exercises”, The Indian Express, April 17, 2015 at http://
indianexpress.com/article/world/asia/pakistan-russia-to-hold-first-ever-joint-military-exercises/?SocialMedia
72 “Russia To Invest $2 Bn To Build 1,100-Km Pipeline in Pakistan”, The Express Tribune”, April 18, 2015 at http://
tribune.com.pk/story/871822/energy-deal-moscow-to-lend-2b-for-lng-pipeline/
73 “Meeting with SCO National Security Council Secretaries”, President of Russia, April 13, 2015 at http://en.kremlin.ru/
events/president/news/49249
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich has said, on April 17, that the presence of American troops in Ukraine can be seen as the first step towards supplies of state-of- the-art US weapons to Kiev. Around American 300 airborne troops are participating in joint military exercises with the Ukrainian forces. Mr. Lukashevich expressed serious concerns about their presence and argued that it violates the Minsk agreements.74
Peruvian Defence Ministry has said, on April 19, that a Russian helicopter maintenance centre, that will be set up in Peru, will help cut the expenses of Latin American countries on maintaining these rotorcraft and develop the local industry. The Centre is expected to come into operation in 2016. About a hundred Soviet and Russian helicopters have been delivered to the Latin American country since the late 1970s.75
Rosneft is likely to buy out Gazprom Neft’s 20-percent stake in the National Oil Consortium producing oil in Venezuela. At present, it holds an 80 per cent stake in the consortium and plans to increase it to 100 per cent by buying Gazprom Neft’s stake. Rosneft also plans to increase its share in a joint venture with Venezuela’s state company PDVSA - Petromonagas - to 40 per cent from the current 16.67 per cent.76
Mexican ambassador to Moscow Ruben Beltran has said, on April 17, that the two countries ‘are developing relations in joint space exploration’. He added that a Mexican satellite will be launched from Baikonur later this month and the country is interested to participate in the GLONASS navigation system.77
Norway’s Foreign Ministry has requested the Russian embassy in Oslo to provide explanations after Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin visited the Spitsbergen archipelago on April 19. Rogozin has been on the European Union’s blacklist of Russian politicians and businessmen barred from entering the EU since March 2014. The Ministry was quoted as saying
‘we requested explanations from the Russian authorities. This fact is not a breach of the Norwegian legislation but we nonetheless clearly informed the Russian embassy in Oslo before than we would not want to see the persons from the list on the Svalbard [Spitsbergen] archipelago.
Therefore, the fact that Rogozin visited Svalbard causes regret’.Spitsbergen, which Norwegians call Svalbard, is located between the 76th and 80th parallels in the Arctic Ocean. The archipelago was placed under Norway’s sovereignty after World War One on condition that it kept a special international status.The Spitsbergen Treaty signed in 1920 secured Norway’s sovereignty over the archipelago. At the same time, the Treaty’s signatory states comprising over 50 countries have equal rights to the development of the archipelago’s natural resources. However, only
74 “Moscow Sees US Troops In Ukraine As Step One To Supplies Of US Weapons”, Itar-Tass, April 17, 2015 at http:/
/tass.ru/en/world/790254
75 “Russian Helicopter Repair Center In Peru To Stimulate Local Industry - Defense Ministry”, Itar-Tass, April 19, 2015 at http://tass.ru/en/world/790348
76 “Sourcå: Rosneft May Buy Out Gazprom Neft’s Stake In National Oil Consortium”, Itar-Tass, April 19, 2015 at http:/
/tass.ru/en/economy/790391
77 “Mexico, Russia Deepening Cooperation in Space”, Space Daily, April 17, 2015 at http://www.spacedaily.com/
reports/Mexico_Russia_Deepening_Cooperation_in_Space_999.html
